While driving south through Oklahoma toward Texas, I was in need of a break, so pulled into the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center and rest stop.  I wasn’t looking for much, and wasn’t planning to stay long, but the welcome I received there was wonderful.  I was warmly greeted, given a complimentary cup of coffee, and told where I could find everything, including information about the local area.  There was also a gift shop there with items produced by, or related to, the Chickasaw Nation, and an extensive book collection about their history, language, and related topics.

I was so impressed with what I saw there, that my rest stop turned into a long visit, and I decided to drive 10 miles out of my way to visit the Chickasaw Cultural Center.  I believe that the center has only been open for about six years, but it’s a beautiful place.  I was greeted at the gate in the Chickasaw language, and even encouraged to learn a few words before I drove on to park.  Then a Chickasaw warrior gave a second greeting to all who came to visit.  Can anyone find me a man with cheekbones like that…?

The campus grounds themselves were lovely, vibrant, and yet peaceful, with this fountain running like a stream though the center of the space.

The architecture of the buildings themselves impressed me as being both modern and traditional, fitting into the natural surroundings and yet providing more than enough space for current activities and future expansion.  This was the exhibit center.  The leaning stick and eternal flame explained below are on the left.

I bought a ticket to do a tour of the center, but, in my usual lucky way, was mistaken for one of a group who was there for an induction or initiation, something like that.  I didn’t figure that out for quite a while, however, and thought that they just provided an incredibly detailed tour!  I liked the fact that, although they certainly explained the history and traditional culture of the Nation, they are also very much a modern people, living in today’s society.  This was partly demonstrated by the display honoring modern warriors.

I read somewhere that the Chickasaw value openness and friendliness, as well as a sense of humor, and that was certainly apparent with everyone I met there.  Our tour guide showed us some traditional hunting methods, including a way to fish with poison.  He explained where the ingredients for the poison were still to be found, and how to use it, but then also told us with a wink that poisoning fish is illegal and of course never happens now.

He also showed us the club-like stick in the lower left of the picture below.  Apparently this is a squirrel stick.  He said that Chickasaw kids were playing whack-a-squirrel to help feed the family well before whack-a-mole was ever invented.

He also told us about the game of stick ball, which is a precursor to modern games such as lacrosse, football, etc.  There were serious games to settle disputes in place of warfare, played only by the men.  There were also social games played by everyone.  In the social games, the men played with sticks while the women used their hands, and the women could tackle the men, while the men… just had to take it.  The way our guide described all of these things was just so funny that we were all laughing.

Of course, the laughing stopped when we got to the part of their history that involved removal from their land in Tennessee and relocation to Oklahoma, the hardships they suffered on the journey, and the difficulties they faced in maintaining their identity as a nation — their own Trail of Tears, he said.  But when I looked around at what they had accomplished, the activities and resources that they were able to provide for their people, and their openness and welcoming nature toward everyone, I had to think that these were a prosperous and successful people.  I particularly liked their use of the Chickasaw language whenever possible, even to trying to teach a visitor like me to speak a few words.  These are some of the books they use in their schools to make sure that all the children learn the language and it doesn’t become lost.

There was also a village on the grounds, to demonstrate the traditional ways of living, including winter and summer houses, a meeting place, corn cribs, etc.  Actors dressed in traditional costumes were there to demonstrate and answer questions.  The picture below was taken from an overlook.

Since it was lunch time, I got myself a bison salad (yes, bison, which unsurprisingly tastes like beef) and sat in the courtyard.  This plaque there explained how the Chickasaw separated from the Choctaw Nation, and how they found their traditional homeland in Tennessee.  It seems they were guided by the leaning of a stick, and were led on by a large white dog.  It probably sounded as plausible as any other “promised land” story I’ve heard…  I hope the below is readable, as it’s a bit too long to transcribe.

They also have an eternal flame, that’s extinguished and reignited every year to symbolize renewal.  So semi-eternal, I suppose…

The grounds were gorgeous, with a fish pond on one side, a garden with plaques to honor Chickasaw who have made major contributions, and the most stunning statues!  This one is called “Owwatta (They Are Hunting).”

The detail was wonderful, for example on the woven quiver and arm band, and the warrior’s braids.

So my stop for a rest and a cup of coffee turned into a half day exploration of the Chickasaw culture, a nation that I knew little about before.  I think what I liked most about the whole experience was that these people were telling their own story in their own way.  Everything I saw showed intelligence, pride, respect, and sophistication.  No one here was playing a “reservation Indian” role that the white culture might expect of them. They were instead staying true to their own culture, educating and correcting others about it, and passing it down to their children, while still living modern lives.  I respect that immensely.

The Chickasaw Nation web site is here: https://www.chickasaw.net/.